Lone Star Brahmas vs Amarillo Bulls Preview
By Kirk Estes
The Lone Star Brahmas will be in Amarillo Sunday as they continue their six road games in eight days odyssey. The series should be intense as the Bulls will be looking to get back on track after the Brahmas started them on a seven game skid. Add Lone Stars recent surge to the mix and you have the makings of a barn burner.
The Brahmas are coming off a two game sweep of the Jackalopes at the Ector County Coliseum which moved them past Odessa in the NAHL South Division standings. On Friday night the Brahmas dominated play, but had to go to a shootout to grab the win. They were just inches from a run away win as they hit five posts during the game. Kellen Wasell (Johan Steen) scored at 12:09 of the third as their only goal of regulation. In the shootout RJ Salvato scored in the first round followed by Gordie Helmuth and Matt Lison in rounds five and six. TJ Black made 19 saves through the overtime period and then turned aside 4 of 6 in the shootout for the win. On Saturday things got off to a quick start for the Brahmas as they poured in three first period goals then held on for a 3 – 2 win. Ryan Watson (Alexey Solovyev, Michael Crowley) stuffed in a rebound at 4:53 to break the ice. Conner Enciso (Wasell, Steen) added to the lead at 11:16 and Lison (Jan Hudecek, Austin Thielges) wrapped up the scoring at 16:47. Odessa came back with two third period goals to pull within one goal. With just five seconds to go the Jackalopes had a rush and sprung Connor Chambers loose behind the defense. Chambers drove to the front of the net with an opportunity to knot the score, but Jett Salinas stoned him with a huge pad save to secure the win.
Amarillo lost a pair of home games to Wichita Falls prior to the Christmas break. In game one the Bulls got goals from Matt Sieckhaus and Mike Davis in the first and second periods, but could muster no more as the Wildcats skated to a 4 – 2 win. Colin Delia faced 34 shots in the loss. In game two Amarillo managed their first point since November 29th as they pushed Wichita Falls to a shootout. Roman Ammirato put the Bulls up late in the first only to see the Wildcats tie things up in the second. While Paul Berrafato made 29 saves through the overtime period, he allowed goals by all four shooters he faced in the shootout.
In four head-to-head games this season the Brahmas 2 – 2 – 0 against the Bulls. Amarillo has outscored the Brahmas 12 – 10 in the four games. Hudecek 2G – 4A, Lison 3G – 1A and Enciso 1G – 3A lead Lone Star in scoring against the Bulls while Black has a 0.50 GAA in his two games against Amarillo. Joe Grabowski 2G – 3A, Sieckhaus 2G – 3A and Davis 2G – 2A have been the leading scorers for Amarillo.
| Last 5 Games | W |
L
OTL
Pts
Brahmas
3
2
0
6
Bulls
0
4
1
1
Special Teams
The difference in special teams play between the Brahmas and Bulls is a reflection of their overall records this season. Amarillo boasts the league’s number one power play and number nine penalty kill. The Brahmas on the other hand are 17th on the power play and 23rd when a man down.
On the road the Brahmas’ power play is running at 8.8% scoring 5 goals on 57 opportunities. They will have to work especially hard to take advantage of the man advantage against Amarillo who has the second best home penalty kill allowing only 5 goals on 80 times short handed for a 93.8% efficiency.
When they find themselves down a man the Brahmas’ road penalty kill has struggled. They are currently ranked last in the league at 71.6% killing off only 48 of 67 power plays. The Bulls’ home power play sets atop the league standings at 26.6% scoring 17 times on 64 power plays.
Goaltending Comparison Last 5 Games
GP |
W
L
OTL
SO
GA
GAA
SV
SV%
Brahmas
5
3
2
0
0
14
2.80
123
.898
Bulls
0
4
1
0
0
15
3.00
119
.888
Who is Hot (Last 5 Games)
| Brahmas | G |
A
Pts
Kellen Wasell
2
1
3
Ryan Watson
1
2
3
Austin Thielges
0
3
3
Matt Lison
2
0
2
Conner Enciso
1
1
2
BullsG
A
Pts
Roman Ammirato
2
1
3
Mike Davis
1
2
3
Carter Penzien
1
0
1
Matt Sieckhaus
1
0
1
Five Tied
0
1
0
Inside the Game
Matt Lison has 12 points 9G – 3A in the last 13 games. Jan Hudecek has 10 points 3G – 7A in his last 9 games.
Amarillo’s Tyler Gernhofer 21G – 14A, Mike Davis 10G – 23A and Matt Sieckhaus 12G – 21A are among the top five scorers in the league. Gernhofer leads the league in goals scored.
TJ Black is 3 – 2 – 0 in his last five games with a 2.62 GAA and a .936 SV%. Jett Salinas is 2 – 0 – 0 in three games since joining the Brahmas with a 2.35 GAA and a .913 SV% including a five save shootout in his first start.
Bulls Defenseman Joe Grabowski is fourth in the league in penalty minutes with 96 and is fourth in major penalties at 30.
The Bulls (25.31 min per game) and Brahmas (23.34 min per game) are 1st and 2nd in penalty minutes. Lone Star leads the league in 10 minute misconduct penalties while Amarillo leads the league in overall penalty minutes with 810.
Lone Star is 1 – 1 in OT and 4 – 1 in shootouts this season. Amarillo is 1 – 1 in OT and 1 – 1 in shootouts.
The Bulls are averaging 29.47 shots per game while the Brahmas are averaging 20.06. Amarillo allows 26.91 shots against and the Brahmas are at 32.19 shots allowed which is a vast improvement over early season numbers.
The Brahmas are 8 – 1 – 2 in one goal games. Amarillo is only 4 – 3 – 2 under the same circumstances.
The Brahmas have picked up 10 points in their last seven games after getting only 14 points in their first 25 games.
Recent Roster Movement
Neither team has made recent roster moves.